Women’s tennis is back, with third straight win

Kathryn Sharples dominated at the No. 1 doubles position. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The women’s tennis team (5-9, 2-0 HL) collected its third straight win and closed out the weekend with a 7-0 shutout against Wright State Sunday at Match Point Tennis.

The Flames took doubles and continued to sweep singles, including four in straight-set decisions.

Seniors Mariana Palacios and Kathryn Sharples continued to dominate at No. 1 doubles and took an 8-3 win over Vanessa Madrigal and Tori Turner. Senior Jana Knoppe and sophomore Ann-Sophie Hahn picked up the other win with an 8-2 defeat against Chelsea Girgash and Linsey Verstrepen. The last match at No. 3, featuring senior Natalia Kuvakina and freshman Veronica Lacerda, went unfinished.

UIC came out in singles to win at each position and in straight sets. Kuvakina took out Turner, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3, as Knoppe earned her 13th win of the season with a 6-4, 6-1 victory at No. 4 against A. Madrigal. Junior Keti Mebuke ousted Megan Brdicka, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 5 and Hahn bested Lauren Smith, 6-0, 6-1, at No. 6.

The Flames additionally tallied wins in come-from-behind fashion at No. 1, with Sharples taking a 6-4, 3-6, 10-8 win against Verstrepen, and at No. 2, with Palacios defeating V. Madrigal, 6-4, 5-7, 10-4.

UIC begins a four-match road stint next weekend, traveling to Milwaukee Saturday to face the Panthers at 1 p.m. before heading to Green Bay to take on the Phoenix at 2 p.m. Sunday.